A METHOD FOR OBTAINING REAL TIME RECOVERY VEHICLE DATA

Abstract

In the development and design of parachutes, select data parameters are required for evaluation. These parameters give the designer dynamic information in actual environments providing stress, load, and glide ratio information. At present this information (altitude, rate of descent, total velocity, acceleration, dynamic pressure and attitude), is obtained by the use of space positioning methods. Meterological data, used to calculate some of these parameters, are obtained from rawinsonde balloons which are launched one half to two hours before and after the drop test. Typical combined data accuracies are on the order of plus or minus f ive percent with most of these errors being ascribed to the fact that the weather data is not taken at the time of the test and atmospheric conditions change rather quickly during the morning hours when the tests are typically done. A method has been developed which will measure meterological data real time. Direct measurements are taken via transducers ie. pressure, acceleration, attitude, temperature and humidity. These transducers are combined in the microprocessor circuitry to obtain final data prior to solid state recording or transmission. This paper will describe the methods and justifications for pursuing a different type of data gathering system.